At The Courtyard Cafe we are passionate about food and drink. The island and its fertile land means we don’t have to look very far afield to find wonderful produce for our kitchen team to work their magic. We only use quality locally sourced ingredients to create the delicious hearty soups, fresh sandwiches, salads, hot ‘Bute Bakes’ and irresistible scones that we’ve become so well known for.

Local & Fairtrade Suppliers

Our suppliers include our very own Mount Stuart Kitchen Garden team, who work tirelessly to grow fruit and vegetables for our cafe. Smoked fish and cheese is supplied by the Isle of Bute Smokehouse, who use a kiln which dates back to 1888! We are also proud to source all our beef and lamb from Macqueen's butchers who use produce from island farms.

We are proud to serve Fairtrade coffee from Scottish based company Coffee Conscience, whose philosophy is that every cup makes a difference by delivering social, environmental and community responsibility. Coffee Conscience are passionate about Fairtrade coffee and the environment, and a percentage of their sales goes back into local community projects. 

Special Dietaries and Allergens

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and dairy free options are available. For example, the soup served in our Courtyard Cafe is always vegan and gluten free. Our cafe team will be happy to provide specific allergen information on request. Please be aware that all foods served on site may contain traces of nuts.

Dogs

Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome in our outdoor seating area in the Courtyard and surrounding areas. Limited indoor seating is available on a first come first served basis, please ask our team.

View our Cafe Sample Menu

Picnics at Mount Stuart

The Courtyard Cafe stocks a range of takeaway food and drink perfect for a picnic in our gardens, or you are welcome to bring your own. Please remember to follow the Countryside Code guidelines during your visit:

• take your litter home – place waste in the bins provided
• campfires or BBQs are not permitted anywhere on the Mount Stuart site
• keep dogs on leads and under control
• care for nature – do not cause damage or disturbance

Online Shop

Shop online for Mount Stuart publications here.

The Family Entrance & Round-house Shops

The Family Entrance & Round-house shops stock a range of unique local and regional crafts with a Scottish twist! We're passionate about supporting local suppliers and are proud to partner with the Isle of Bute Artists' Collective. If you're planning a visit in late July, don't miss their annual Studio Trail weekend which takes place across the Isle of Bute and features around 40 exhibiting artists!

The Family Entrance and Round-house Shops stock fantastic gifts from island based suppliers including Isle of Bute Candle Company, Animac Design and Ruth Slater as well as a range of Mount Stuart souvenirs.

At the Family Entrance Shop you'll also find a fantastic selection of Bute Fabrics scarves, shawls and throws. The Bute Fabrics mill was founded in 1947 by the 5th Marquess of Bute with the sole purpose of providing employment opportunities for service people returning home from the Second World War. Today, the mill is still a major employer on the island and has built a world class reputation for innovative and high quality textiles and fashion manufacturing.

You can also order a Mount Stuart guidebook from our online shop.